Flash-light casing



Dc. 26,1967 YOSHIHARU ALAN SHXMASAKI 3,360,643

FLASH-LIGHT CASING Filed July 6, 1965 INVENTOR LL-MM- UM BY WW United States Patent 2 Claims. (Cl.24010.68)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A flash-light comprising a cylindrical housing member defining an opening adjacent the front end and a separate cylindrical front member adapted to be mserted into the cylindrical housing member at the front end thereof. The cylindrical front member has a spring part including a radially outwardly directed projection for being releasably and resiliently outwardly engaging in the opening of the cylindrical housing member in an operative closed position. The cylindrical front member is formed with an annular abutment ridge portion which abuts the front end of the cylindrical housing member when the projection of the spring part engages in the opening in the cylindrical housing member.

The present invention relates to flash-lights, in general, and to casings for flash-lights, in particular.

In conventional flash-light casings, a head portion and a bottom lid for the battery housing are connected by screw threads. To replace a bulb or battery, either the head portion or bottom lid of the casing must be screwed off from the casing body.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a novel flash-light casing having a cylindrical housing with a closed end wherein replacement of a bulb and battery can readily be achieved by simple action.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a flash-light casing in accordance wtilh the above-mentioned objective which has a simplified construction and can be mass produced economically.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a flashlight casing designed in accordance wtih the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an axial cross-sectionaly view of the flashlight casing in accordance Wtih the present invention in operative assembled position.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a battery housing member 1 with receiving holes 2 formed adjacent an open front end 1a of the battery housing member 1, the other end 1b of the battery housing being closed (FIG. 2). The receiving holes 2 are readily constructed simultaneously with a hole for providing a switch 3 for the flashlight.

A separate cylindrical front member 4 is provided having a front portion 4a and having a rear portion 4b. The outer diameter of the rear portion 4b is smaller than the outer diameter of the front portion 4a, and the front portion 4a meets the rear portion 4b at an annular circumferential abutment ridge 4 which faces the rear end portion 4b and which is formed by the relative difference in diameter between the front portion and rear portion. The rear portion 415 of the cylindrical front member 4 is adapted to be inserted axially into the open front end 1a of the housing member 1 until the front end 1a of the 3,360,643 Patented Dec. 26, 1967 housing member 1 abuts the circumferential abutment ridge 4' of the cylindrical front member 4.

The cylindrical front member 4 is adapted to hold a reflecting mirror 5, freely set in the cylindrical front member 4 before insertion, and one end of a bulb 6 is fitted centrally within the reflecting mirror 5 and contacts an electrode 9' of a battery 9 disposed within the housing member 1, when the cylindrical front member 4 inserted into the housing member 1.

Spring members 7 extending parallel to the axis of the cylindrical front member 4 are formed on the rear portion 411 of the cylindrical front member 4 and include a projection 8 radially extending outwardly at the rear or free end of the spring member 7. The projections 8 are complementary to and engage in the receiving holes 2 in an outward direction. The distance of the projections 8 from the circumferential abutment ridge 4' is equal to the distance of the corresponding receiving holes 2 from the front end In of the housing member 1, so that when the projections 8 are engaged in the receiving holes 2, the front end 1a of the housing member 1 abuts the ridge 4' of the cylindrical front member 4, thereby providing a secure locking of the members.

In the locking position with the projections 8 inserted within the receiving holes 2 in the housing member 1, axial movement and rotation of the cylindrical front member 4 relative to the housing member 1 is prevented. Replacement of the bulb 6 or battery 9, however, is readily achieved when desired by releasing the projections 8 from the receiving holes 2, whereupon the cylindrical front member 4 is removed from the housing member 1.

Preferably, two receiving holes 2, respectively, are provided in opposite sides of the housing member 1, although the present invention is not limited thereto.

A cylindrical front member 4 made of synthetic resin provides advantageous features, as the spring member 7 thereof contains elastic characteristics itself.

The structure of the present invention accordingly provides a unique construction for a flash-light casing, providing a ready means of opening and closing and secure fastening, as well as simplicity of manufacture and re duced manufacturing costs.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a limiting sense, the scope of the present invention being determined by the objects and the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A flash-light comprising:

a cylindrical housing member having an open front end and defining at least one opening adjacent said open front end,

a separate cylindrical front member having a front portion and a rear portion and said rear portion adapted to be inserted into said cylindrical housing member at the open front end thereof,

said rear portion having a smaller diameter than said front portion and said cylindrical front member defining an annular circumferential abutment ridge at the junction of said rear portion and said front portion, said abutment ridge facing toward said rear portion,

at least one spring member formed on said rear portion and extending parallel to the axis of said cylindrical front member and including a radially outwardly directed projection thereon,

said projection adapted to be inserted into said at least one opening in said cylindrical housing member when said cylindrical front member is inserted into said cylindrical housing member in an operative position,

said at least one spring member biased in the outward direction for holding said cylindrical front member in releasable engagement with said cylindrical housing member in said operative position,

said front end of said cylindrical housing member abutting said annular circumferential abutment ridge in said operative position, and

a bulb and reflector combination adapted to be positioned securely in said cylindrical front member and said cylindrical housing member in said operative position.

2. The flash-light, as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said at least one opening includes two openings spaced 180 apart,

said at least one spring member includes two spring members spaced 180 apart, and

said projections substantially complementary to said openings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,474,451 11/1923 Stuckelberger 24010.68 2,951,935 9/1960 Cole 240-81XR FOREIGN PATENTS 1,045,860 7/1963 France.

NORTON ANSI-IER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FLASH-LIGHT COMPRISING: A CYLINDRICAL HOUSING MEMBER HAVING AN OPEN FRONT END AND DEFINING AT LEAST ONE OPENING ADJACENT SAID OPEN FRONT END, A SEPARATE CYLINDRICAL FRONT MEMBER HAVING A FRONT PORTION AND A REAR PORTION AND SAID REAR PORTION ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED INTO SAID CYLINDRICAL HOUSING MEMBER AT THE OPEN FRONT END THEREOF; SAID REAR PORTION HAVING A SMALLER DIAMETER THAN SAID FRONT PORTION AND SAID CYLINDRICAL FRONT MEMBER DEFINING AN ANNULAR CIRCUMFERENTIAL ABUTMENT RIDGE AT THE JUNCTION OF SAID REAR PORTION AND SAID FRONT PORTION, SAID ABUTMENT RIDGE FACING TOWARD SAID REAR PORTION, AT LEAST ONE SPRING MEMBER FORMED ON SAID REAR PORTION AND EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID CYLINDRICAL FRONT MEMBER AND INCLUDING A RADIALLY OUTWARDLY DIRECTED PROJECTION THEREON, SAID PROJECTION ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED INTO SAID LAST 